This video captures Jewels, our leader pig's calm but intense gaze, which I think is very interesting! Often, we think we are observing our guinea pigs; guinea pigs are also observing us!
Jewels is a diligently caring and responsibly attentive guinea pig leader. While all the other pigs are relaxed and resting, Jewels gazes with her body lying down, neck upright, eyes wide open, and sight fixed. This gesture may reveal some of her possible concerns:
1. Why are you still filming?
2. Do I need to respond? (Express anxiety by purring? Reveal gratitude by licking hay? Ignore the camera by looking away?)
3. Are my other piggies all safe and ok?
Being aware that she is 'watched' and watching out and over, Jewels holds a perfect position to calmly 'investigate' what it is to look into right now and perhaps 'consider' her options of making her next move or even no move. In Jewels' gaze, her will to observe and her options for a decision complicate her as a guinea pig leader.
Guinea pigs are highly intelligent animals! They often peacefully observe humans and then tend to make the proper decision at the right time. For example, they may approach you when you look at them and reveal that you want to touch them: They may lie down in front of you. Or they may stay behind your back when you clean for them, knowing that you will be careful with them: They may lick you to say thank you! Guinea pigs learn to make these subtle decisions by carefully observing the humans they live with, and they do so with surprisingly excellent mental capabilities.
Next time you catch your piggies looking straight at you and observing you, you can also analyze what they might be thinking or concerned about and their possible options.
They want to express their 'opinions' to you if they know you would try to understand them!
17 окт 2024
